Udinese vs. Anzhi Makhachkala

In Group A, Italian side Udinese will host newly-rich Russian club Anzhi at the Stadio Friuli.

Udinese were a missed penalty kick away from qualifying for the Champions League group stage but instead are stuck in the Europa League for the second straight season.

Anzhi have been able to buy the star power to drive them to success and this season's Europa League will be the first time they get to prove that they are for real to the rest of the continent.

The Russians may have been headed in the right direction before this season but with the hiring of Guus Hiddink as manager for the new season, they are now a formidable threat domestically as they currently sit third in the Russian Premier League.

Fenerbahce vs. Marseille

Both clubs squaring off in Istanbul on Thursday had rocky campaigns last season and are looking to turn things around.

Fenerbahce were banned from the Champions League last season because of match-fixing allegations while Marseille finished 10th in Ligue 1.

The Turkish club failed to make the group stage of the Champions League after losing to Spartak Moscow in the third round, which in turn demoted them to the Europa League.

Marseille are just lucky to be playing in Europe this season, they won the French League Cup to qualify, and are off to a hot start domestically as they are perfect through five matches in Ligue 1 so far.

For those of you familiar with the English Premier League, there may be some familiar faces on the pitch on Thursday as both Dirk Kuyt and Raul Meireles moved to Fenerbahce in the summer and should be in the starting lineup.